Jumia Travel Opens Physical Agencies in Nairobi

by Lillian Gaitho

Posted on November 23, 2017

Jumia Shop, Westlands, Nairobi

Nairobi, 21st Nov. – Jumia Travel, the leading online hotel and flight portal in Africa has announced the opening of local agencies in response to a market segment yet to adapt to the growing online trend.

The offline presence is expected to lead the largely web-based company in gaining greater share of the local market still dependent on conventional mortar and brick business. This comes at a time when domestic travel continues to maintain a positive trajectory, with an impressive 14.6 per cent growth in 2016 amounting to 3.6 million bed nights as compared to the previous year (2015) 3.1 million bed-nights uptake.

Similarly, a 2016 report by UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) indicated a domestic spending of 59% against foreign visitor spending at 41%. Domestic travel therefore remains one of the fastest growing sectors in the tourism industry, and employing channels that simplify the process to the most seamless is inevitable.

Offline sales are still important. 45% of tour and attraction transactions are happening directly offline. This makes in-person exchanges a top channel for activity sales – Phocuswright, 2017

Need to create a seamless process for the customer who is yet to adapt to e and m Commerce

Jumia Travel now has physical shops in the City Center and Westlands area.

Jumia Travel’s offline presence is meant to appeal to the traveler still wary or not conversant with the internet of things, so to say.

“As much as we celebrate the remarkable growth of the online marketplace, we must not forget the segment of customers who do not have this knowledge and skills, those who do not have adequate access to broadband and those who simply prefer more human interaction” Says Cyrus Onyiego, the Country Manager for Kenya.

Jumia Travel has now acquired space at the strategically located Emperor Plaza in Nairobi’s Central Business District, along Koinange Street and in Westlands Mpaka House on Mpaka Road. Plans to expand to other Nairobi based locations as well as in other counties are underway.

Lilian Gaitho is the Head of Public Relations, Jumia Travel Kenya. An avid contributor, and has undoubtedly profound prowess on travel - tech&tips and the hospitality industry matters. Travel.jumia.com is Africa's No.1 hotel booking website, allowing you to get the best prices for more than 25,000 hotels in Africa and more than 200,000 hotels around the world.